INFORMATION ON FISHER SYNDROME

Fisher syndrome is a unusual, acute neurological disorder characterized by a triad of clinical manifestations that includes brain-damage linked abnormal coordination (ataxia), a condition that involves the paralysis of the eyes called ophthalmoplegia, and a generalized absence of reflexes.

CAUSES OF FISHER SYNDROME

The greater part of affected individuals with fisher syndrome produces an antibody by their resistant system that is related to the susceptibility to develop the disease following a viral illness; it is unclear how. It is thought that the antibody anti-gq1b igg is linked with paralysis of the eye, or ophthalmoplegia. The cause of fisher syndrome and guillain-barré syndrome in both the cases is due to an autoimmune disease whereby antibodies produced by the body's immune system wrongly attack a nerve insulator and impulse carrier called the myelin sheath. This causes inflammation and damage to the nervous system. Guillain-barré syndrome differs from fisher syndrome in that different nerve groups are targeted and paralysis in the previous begins with the legs and moves upward. Fisher syndrome, on the other hand, begins in the head (paralysis of the eyes) and moves in the direction toward the neck and arms. Although the direct cause is unknown, 65% of cases are thought to be linked to herpes-related viral illness (although viruses other than herpes can also be involved).

SYMPTOMS OF FISHER SYNDROME

The primary symptoms appear to be connected to a virus and include a headache, fever, and pneumonia. The characteristic triad of symptoms that result in individuals who acquire fisher syndrome is in addition to widespread muscle atrophy (weakness) and respiratory complications that can involve respiratory failure if untreated. It is uncommon to observe a patient with fisher syndrome that does not have some degree of generalized weakness. Damage to motor function is believed to be linked with damage sustained by the cranial nerves of the brain, with sensory nerve damage extending to the patient's arms and legs.

TREATMENT OF FISHER SYNDROME

Treatment for fisher syndrome engages in removing the plasma from affected individuals, a method called plasmapheresis. In doing so, antibodies that cause the disease are also removed. In the alternative, patients can be treated with an intravenous injection of immunoglobulin (ivig) to enhance the immune system. Untreated patients can experience double vision, nausea, difficulty in walking, and sensitivity to light that can go on for a number of months.